Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit against Texas contending that the new law prohibiting it from participating in the Women’s Health Program is unconstitutional discrimination. The lawsuit asked the court for an injunction to stop enforcement of the rules preventing Planned Parenthood from getting taxpayer funding via the program , saying the rules violate their rights by putting an “unconstitutional condition on their participation” in the Women’s Health Program.

The lawsuit also alleges the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which is enforcing the rule, “overstepped its authority in adopting a rule that conflicts with the purpose of the laws that created the program.”

Today, Federal District Judge Lee Yeakel today ruled in favor of nine Planned Parenthood affiliates — giving them a temporary injunction blocking enforcement of the law and requiring the state to continue funding the abortion business until the lawsuit is fully adjudicated.

“It is well-established that the government is entitled to define the limits of a publicly funded program,” Yeakel wrote. “But the government may not condition participation in a government program or receipt of a government benefit upon an applicants exercise of protected rights.”

In order to receive the temporary injunction, the PP affiliates had to demonstrate a likelihood that they would win their suit on the merits, Yeakel noted. The PP affiliates “have satisfied their burden of persuasion on the four factors necessary for them to be entitled to maintain the status quo that exists between them and the State of Texas, pending this court’s determination of the merits” of the larger case, he wrote.

“In balancing the relative harm to the parties and the court’s concern for the interest of the public, the court is particularly influenced by the potential for immediate loss of access to necessary medical services by several thousand Texas women. The record before the court at this juncture reflects the uncertainty as to the continued viability of the Texas Women’s Health Program,” he continued. “Although the Governor [Rick Perry] has instructed that the program is to continue fully funded by Texas, the current record gives the court no comfort that funds are or will be available to continue the program after the phase out of federal funds.”

Elizabeth Geraham, the head of Texas Right to Life, talked with LifeNews about the decision.

“Though the preliminary injunction may seem to be a victory for the abortion giant, Governor Perry and Texas Attorney General Abbott have consistently held that Texas will not continue the WHP if taxpayers are forced to subsidize the abortion industry,” she said. “Planned Parenthood is now playing politics with women’s health by risking the whole program by its advocacy of abortion. Attorney General Abbott is fully prepared to defend the intent of the Legislature by allowing participation in the WHP to providers and agencies that provide a full spectrum of health care services and that are not affiliated with abortion.”

Graham added: “Texas Right to Life very carefully oversaw the WHP renewal legislation, ensuring that low income women could find services at agencies that do not provide abortion. Planned Parenthood’s claims in the lawsuit about discrimination and staff cuts if excluded from the WHP are absurd; if Planned Parenthood would stop committing abortion, they would be eligible for several public revenue streams. We have full confidence in Attorney General Abbott to protect the taxpayers of Texas from directly and indirectly funding America’s largest abortion chain.”

Joe Pojman, Ph.D., executive director of Texas Alliance for Life, also responded: “Planned Parenthood runs the largest chain of abortion facilities in our state, and they the mix Women’s Health Program and abortions under the same roof at many of those abortion facilities.”

“For example that is the case in Bryan, Dallas, Houston, and Waco. Governor Perry and the Legislature have every right to prevent Planned Parenthood from promoting abortion as a method of family planning with tax dollars. We believe that today’s setback will be temporary and that the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals will recognize the constitutionality of Texas law,” he said. “Of the some 2,500 Women’s Health Program Providers, 98% have nothing to do with Planned Parenthood and abortion. Planned Parenthood, which has no mammogram machines, provides shabby care for low-income women. Planned Parenthood is unable or unwilling to offer comprehensive primary and preventative care, which low-income women deserve. A woman will not see a doctor at Planned Parenthood unless she is there for an abortion. The State ordered Planned Parenthood San Antonio to return thousands of WHP funds in 2009 because Planned Parenthood had been illegally operating unlicensed abortion facilities at the same sites where they providing WHP services.”

Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser also responded, saying, “Planned Parenthood, America’s abortion giant, is holding hostage the health care of low-income women across Texas in order to keep its pockets lined with taxpayer dollars.”

“As Governor Perry has pointed out, Planned Parenthood clinics represent less than two percent of the more than 2,500 enrolled providers. By suing in court and demanding taxpayer funding, Planned Parenthood may leave the state with no choice but to end the Women’s Health Program in order to ensure that taxpayers are not forced to subsidize the abortion industry,” she continued.

Before the lawsuit, the Obama Administration cut off the Women’s Health Care Program (WHP) for over 100,000 Texas women at over 2,400 providers for the sake of Planned Parenthood, which provides only limited health service at 44 facilities in Texas. In response, Governor Rick Perry and state lawmakers found their own funding for it.

Linda Schlueter, President of Trinity Legal Center, says, “Women will receive better care as a result of Texas law that passed overwhelmingly during the June 2011 special session. Women can see physicians who provide comprehensive primary and preventative care; whereas, at Planned Parenthood they usually only see a physician if they have an abortion.”

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Furthermore, Planned Parenthood cannot treat breast cancer, does not offer prenatal care, or does not have mammogram machines, Schlueter said.

“In effect, the Obama administration is sacrificing women’s health to make sure Planned Parenthood gets at least $17 million in taxpayer funds, regardless of their inability or unwillingness to provide more comprehensive care,” Anne Newman, Director of Communication and Policy for Trinity Legal Center. “This is an effort to support Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the nation’s multi-billion dollar abortion industry, which has recently come under intense controversy and criticism across the nation.”

The Medicaid Women’s Health Program provides preventive health care to over 100,000 low-income women in Texas every year.

There are over 2,400 qualified providers of the Medicaid WHP in Texas; only 44 Planned Parenthood facilities currently receive the funds.

Schlueter points out that Planned Parenthood of San Antonio operated four abortion facilities illegally without a license for as long as four years. They were discovered and fined more than $100,000 by the State and required to return hundreds of thousands in WHP Medicaid funds in 2009. Planned Parenthood of El Paso abruptly closed in 2009 and was found to have engaged in Medicaid fraud.

In December, the Obama Administration refused to renew funding for Texas’ Women’s Health Program (WHP) because of new state rules that disqualify abortion business affiliates from participation in the program. The WHP encompasses Medicaid family planning services for low income women. The program started through authorizing legislation in 2005 and was renewed in the recent 82nd Legislative Session with new pro-life rules.